Tina Taft

Some people live for their careers, driven by ambition, accolades, or personal gain, too consumed by success to see what really matters most. Tina Taft wasn’t one of them. Tina always knew what was most important: the love she found every single day in her family. She was a beloved wife, mom, grandma and great-grandma, the greatest success of all.

Tina’s story began on a cool fall day in 1939, in the little town of Delton, Michigan. Those were anxious times in this country, a nation struggling to regain its feet from the Great Depression, with the darkening skies of World War II looming overseas. Yet on October 3, 1939, Sam and Ruby (Stratton) Largent found reason for hope, with the birth of a beautiful baby girl, a daughter they named Virginia, whom was soon to be know as Tina.

Tina was the second oldest of six children, three boys and three girls, though two of her brothers sadly died as infants. Together with her siblings Judy, Linda, Phil, Ralph and Mike, the family lived in Plainwell when Tina was growing up, and she attended Plainwell Schools. Sadly, when Tina was just 15, her mother died, and her father soon remarried a wonderful woman named Zelma. Zelma was just a few years older than Tina, and she was much more like a big sister than a stepmother. Tina and Zelma became very close, and Tina helped raise her younger siblings.

Tina attended Plainwell High School, were she made many close friends, lifelong friends, and later in life they kept a long-running tradition of getting together for breakfast once a month.

After she graduated in 1957, Tina began working for awhile at Valley Metal. It wasn’t long before she had a bigger job to consider, however.

During Christmas time in 1958, Tina was eating at Fred’s Diner in Plainwell, when a handsome young man she knew named Jimmie Taft walked through the door. Jimmie was a little older than Tina, and had just returned from the service, and he was immediately smitten with Tina, who had grown up into a beautiful young woman since he last saw her. He asked her out right on the spot, they went on their first date the next day, he proposed in February, and the happy couple was married on June 27, 1959. From that day forward, they were inseparable, and Jimmie always beamed ear-to-ear whenever he looked at his beautiful bride.

It wasn’t long before the newlyweds became parents, as well, and they were blessed with three wonderful sons over the coming years, Randy, Robert and Scott. Tina was a wonderful wife and mother, so loving, attentive and supportive. When her kids had friends over, she was right there with them, going swimming or playing games, the Mom everyone loved. Tina also loved to cook for the whole family, and Colonel Sanders couldn’t hold a candle to her fried chicken!

The family did much together, especially traveling. After taking one family vacation, they were hooked, and then went everywhere, taking trips out East, to Plymouth Rock, Niagara Falls, and many, many other places. Over the years Tina collected cups from almost all the states, trophies from their travels.

When the kids were in their teens, Tina went to work at Plainwell Lanes, first as a cook and then for four years as the day manager. Jimmie began bowling, and Tina went with him wherever his tournaments were, and eventually she began bowling, too.

The couple also began taking care of some cottages at Eagle Lake, and eventually got their own cottages there, also. Eagle Lake was such a special place for the whole family, where many great gatherings were held, and where Tina and her husband spent so many quiet times, looking out at the beautiful lake.

Tina and Jimmie shared a marriage that was so much more than special, they were truly best friends, and so perfect for each other. There was nothing but happiness in their home, and their love could truly light up any room.

When their kids were grown they traveled all over the country, taking off on month-long road trips to see different places, sometimes with friends but never apart. They enjoyed visiting the various casinos along the way, as they both were so passionate about gambling. Tina often would get on incredibly lucky win streaks, too! Every summer they spent a week in the Upper Peninsula, enjoying the casinos and the natural beauty found there.

Tina loved the outdoors, from the U.P., to Eagle Lake, and everywhere in between. She was a longtime member of the Gun River Conservation Club, and served as the club’s secretary and treasurer for several years.

Sadly, Tina was diagnosed with cancer, and after a long and brave battle with the disease, she died surrounded by her family on June 17, 2007, at her home. She was 67.

Tina was a wonderful woman, who lived a wonderful life, a life so full of friendship, fond memories, and most of all, family. She was a beloved wife, mom, grandma and great-grandma, whose greatest success, and greatest legacy, lives on in her family today. She will be so greatly missed.

Learn more about Tina, view her Life Story Film, and visit with her family on Wednesday from 2-4 & 6-8 PM at the Life Story Funeral Homes, RDMG, Plainwell, 120 S. Woodhams, where her service will be held on Thursday at 1 PM. Tina’s family includes her husband of 48 years, Jimmie; her mother, Zelma Largent; her children: Randy & Linda Taft of Plainwell, Bob & Chris Taft of Goodyear, AZ, and Scott & Dana Taft of Plainwell; 10 grandchildren: Bobby, Jessica, James, Beth, Billy, Amber, Russell, Ryan, and Christina; and 7 great-grandchildren: Desiree, Jasmine, Jayce, DeShaun, Austin, Jayden, and Brett; her siblings: Linda & Ken Roberts of Holland, Phil & Carolyn Largent of Plainwell, and Mike Largent of Plainwell; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings: Judy & Leo Audette, Ralph, Dale, & Robert Largent, and her grandson Jeffrey. Please visit Tina’s memory page at www.lifestorynet.com, where you can read her Life Story, share a favorite memory or photo, sign her guest book or make a memorial donation to the Southern Care Hospice.